Tumbler basket for collective dishwashing



Patented Mar. 28, 1939 UNITED STATES TUMBLER BASKET roa COLLECTIVE.

msnwssnmo Catherine Barrie, Cold Spring Harbor, N. Y.

Application November 16, 1937, Serial No. 174,793

11 Claims.

This invention relates to devices for the collective washing of tumblers and the like.

The present application illustrates a form of a device for the collective washing of dishes, as by V manual operation, and especially where the' specific forms of the broad invention are dis-- closed in my patent applications filed herewith entitled Plate basket and basin for collective dish washing, Serial No. 174,797, and Cup and saucer basket for collective dish washing, Serial No. 174,794, the latter application being a particularly good illustration of a modified form of the present invention.

One object of the invention is to provide improved means and methods for accomplishing the results and advantages above stated.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved device of the character described adapted for the safe handling of tumblers.

Another object of the invention is to furnish a device of the nature set forth adapted to hold and lock in position tumblers of different sizes, in an improved manner, for the purpose specified.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an improved device of the type mentioned having few and simple parts, and which is inexpensive to manufacture, convenient, durable, reliable and efficient in use; and also improved methods of practising the principles of the invention.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the specification proceeds.

With the aforesaid objects in view, the invention consists in the novel combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described in their preferred embodiments, pointed out in the subjoined claims, and illustrated in the annexed drawing, wherein like parts are designated by the same reference characters throughout the several views.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the invention, with the closure in locked position, and an open position thereof being in part indicated in dot-dash lines; and tumblers therein being shown in dotdash lines.

Fig. 2 is a view in elevation thereof.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3,3 of Fig. 1, with a tumbler shown in dot-dash lines. 5

The advantages of the invention as here outlined are best realized when all of its features and instrumentalities are combined in one and the same structure, but, useful devices may be produced embodying less than the whole.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art to which the invention appertains, that the same may be incorporated in several different constructions. The accompanying drawing, therefore, is submitted merely as showing the preferred exemplification of the invention.

Referring in detail to the drawing, l0 denotes a device embodying the invention. The same may include a container of foraminous or reticulated material, such as a wire basket, the wires of which are suitably soldered, welded or otherwise interconnected. Coacting with or forming a part of the basket is a closure means l2, which is closable and operable, as, for instance, by relative angular motion between the basket and the closure means, or by relative motion between portions of the closure means and the basket. For example, tumblers or other dishes I 3 are disposed in upright spaced compact relation within suitable openings or holder sections such as II, the closure means serving to cause the tumblers to be thus retained even when the, basket is inverted for draining the rinsing water from the tumblers. The device l0 affords sufiiciently large openings for adequate and free rinsing and washing of the tumblers, as with an insertable mop, and for free drainage and air circulation for rapid. drying of the tumblers. It may be noted that by the word tumbler as herein used, may be denoted any dish which is to be washed such as plates, cups, and the like, and not merely drinking glasses. It will be observed that the operator need not insert her hands in dish water to wash the dishes.

The basket l0 may include three coaxial vertically spaced wire rings I5, I6, and ll of like diameter. Disposed in spaced coaxial relation thereunder is a fourth wire ring I8 of substantially smaller diameter than the rings l5, l6, and I1.

Interconnecting the rings l5, l6, I1 and I8 are equally angularly spaced like upright wire elements 19, each being bent at the ring I! to provide an inward downward extending portion lQa to suit the diameter of the base ring l8. From 55 the latter, the wires l9 may have integral inward extending radial portions I9b all of which lie in a common plane. At a suitable point such as I90, the wires l9 have upright portions I911 which may extend up to the plane of the ring I5, these parts 19d defining an inner cylindrical region coaxial with the rings to l8. At the upper ends of the wire portions or stays Hid, is secured an inner ring 20 which lies coaxially substantially in the plane of the outer rim ring l5. Also secured to the stays l9d is an inner ring 2| which lies coaxially substantially in the plane of the outer ring l6. If desired, the inner rings 20, 2|

may lie somewhat below the planes of their respective outer rings l5 and I6.

To radially divide thedevice for receiving six tumblers, wire elements Ila may extend radially at equal angles to connect the wire H with the wire id or with any other suitable part.

For reliably holding the tumblers, there may be disposed coaxially'in the plane of the outer ring l8, an inner wire ring 22, secured to the radial wire portions 19b and carrying or having integrally formed therefrom a series of equally angularly spaced holder portions 23. Theseare arranged so as to be angularly offset relative to the stay wires IQ for a purpose that will be hereinafter apparent. Each holder portion 23 may have an inwardly offset tumbler supporting portion 230 which lies radially in the plane of the outer ring I8, and an upstanding portion 23b that may be somewhat larger than the parts 23a. The arrangement may be such that the parts 23a, 23b form a loop integral with the ring 22.

In use, a tumbler I 4 is inserted through the top of the basket as shown in dot dash lines in Figs. 1 and 3. The tumbler thus rests upon the outer ring l8, which was made of reduced diameter for this purpose, and upon the portion 23a of a holder 23. One or both of the outer rings I6, I! form an outer lateral support for the tumbler. If, the tumbler is of suflicient height to reach the ring IS, the latter may also form an outer lateral support therefor. The upright portion 23b of the holder 23 acts like a resilient clip to exert an outward lateral pressure on the tumbler and thus cause the same to be reliably held. One or both of the inner rings may laterally abut the tumbler to afford an inner support therefor. Six tumblers may be thus mounted.

In order to reliably retain the tumblers as in the event that the device I0 is inverted to drain water 'from the tumblers, and also to thus cooperate with tumblers of different heights, the closure means l2 may be mounted for vertical as well as angular movability, as between the rings l5, l6. More specifically, the closure means l2 may include a wire ring 24 which may be of substantially like diameter with the inner rings 20, 2|. Extending from the ring 24 at equally angularly spaced points are the radial wire elements or bars 24a, which terminate in the loop or hook like inwardly bent portions 24b. The parts 24, 24a and 24b may lie in a common plane intermediate of the rings l5, l6. Since the bars 24a project beyond the rings I5, I 6, accidental removal of the closure means I2 is avoided.

Coacting with the bars 24a or their anchor portions 24b, are a series of equally angularly spaced hooks 25 secured on the ring IS in upstanding relation and all opening in one direction, so that the parts 24b may be simultaneously engaged with or released from the hooks 25 upon angular movement of the closure means l2 in one or an opposite direction, and with the bars 24a resting on the ring l6. This mode of engagement is used where the tumblers reach only up to the ring "5, the bars 24a then diametrically closely overlying the respective tumblers to prevent removal thereof. If the tumblers are of the greater length so as to reach the ring [5, the bars 24a will merely upwardly rest against the ring l5, and the hooks 25 will not be utilized.

To prevent accidental reverse angular movement of the closure means 2i and hence unintended release of the tumblers, a suitable locking means 26 may be provided. The same may includecoplanar diametral wire rails 26a, 26b secured at their ends to the respective inner rings 20, 2| and lying in the planes thereof. These rails 26a, 2617 may carry a pair of small slide rings 26c, 2611, respectively. The locking means 26 may also comprise short alined diametrically disposed wire elements 240, which terminate in spaced relation to each other, and may form integral extensions of a pair of the bars 24a. In the locked position of Fig. 1, the lower lock rings 26d have been outwardly slid along the rail 26b to engage around the closure elements 240, and

thus to prevent angular movement of the closure means l2. If the latter be elevated for the larger tumblers, then the said closure elements 24c may be locked in like manner by the upper lock rings 260. It may be noted that the ends of the closure elements 24c have been shown inwardly bent on themselves to provide blunt ends and reliable frictional engagement with the lock rings 24c and 24d.

To remove the tumblers, the lock rings 260 or 26d, as the case may be, are moved toward each other to release the closure elements 240, and hence to permit the closure means l2 to be rotated to the position suggested in dot-dash lines in Fig, 1, so that the bars 24a lie laterally of the tumblers and permit the free removal of the latter. Angular movement of the closure means is limited by the adjacent stay wires l9. By suitably overlying the tumblers, the closure means I 2 coacts with the basket I l or with frame portions such as 23, or both, to cause the tumblers to be held against accidental slipping from predetermined position.

It will thus be seen that I have provided a device which fulfills the objects of the invention and is well adapted for practical use. The tumblers may be readily rinsed or washed while disposed in the device It], then inverted with said device for draining and drying, and then stored away for later use, as originally placed in the device and without further handling.

I claim:

1. A device including a reticulated means for receiving and holding dishes and affording substantial openings for the washing and air drying of the dishes therein through said openings, comprising a container consisting of a material which will not be substantially affected by repeated and prolonged exposure to Water, said container having means therein for holding a series of dishes in spaced predetermined relation to each other and with the concavities of the dishes facing upward, closure means for the container permanenently connected with the latter to assure reliable retention of the dishes in the relation mentioned upon inverting the container to cause draining and air drying of the dishes, said closure means being movable to raised and lowered positions and being horizontally movable in each of said positions to operative and inoperative positions, and means for releasably securing the closure means in raised and lowered operative positions.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the closure means is skeletonized to provide a frame so related to the dish holding means as to clear the latter and to overlie the latter in open and closed positions of the closure means, for the respective removal and retention of the dishes and said closure means being movable about a vertical axis to said operative and inoperative positions.

3. A device including a reticulated means for receiving and holding dishes and affording substantial openings for the washing and air drying of the dishes therein through said openings, comprising a container consisting of a material which will not be substantially affected by repeated and prolonged exposure to water, said container having means therein for holding a series of dishes in spaced predetermined relation to each other and with the concavities of the dishes facing upward, and closure means for the container coacting with the latter to assure reliable retention of the dishes in the relation mentioned upon inverting the container to cause draining and air drying of the dishes, the dish holding means being arranged about a central point, and the closure means being mounted for angular movement about an axis coincident with said center point, the closure means having openings and intermediate bars, said openings and said bars selectively registering with-the dish holding means according to the position to which the closure means has been moved.

4. A device including a reticulated means for receiving and holding dishes and affording substantial openings for the washing and air drying of the dishes therein through said openings, comprising a container consisting of a material which will not be substantially affected by repeated and prolonged exposure to water, said container having means therein for holding a series of dishes in spaced predetermined relation to each other and with the concavities of the dishes facing upward, and closure means for the container coacting with the latter to assure reliable retention of the dishes in the relation mentioned upon inverting the container to cause draining and air drying of the dishes, the dish holding means and the closure means being. arranged about a common axis, and locking means being provided to control the action of the closure means, said locking means being operative in part by relative angular movement between the container and closure means.

5. A device according to claim 1, wherein the container comprises a wall having a pair of spaced coaxial outer rings, a pair of spaced coaxial inner rings coaxial with and lying along the planes of the outer rings, the closure means being coaxial with said rings and being movable up and down between the upper and lower inner and outer rings, the means for releasably holding the closure means including means for holding the closure means in engagement with the lower outer ring.

6. A device including a reticulated means for receiving and holding dishes and aflordlng substantial openings for the washing and air drying of the dishes therein through said openings, comprising a container consisting of a material which will not be substantially affected by repeated and prolonged exposure to water, said container having means therein for holding a series of dishes in spaced predetermined relation to each other, and a reticulated closure means movable to operative and inoperative position to overlie and clear the dish holding means, said closure means and dish holding means being arranged about a vertical axis, and the closure means being mounted for movement about said axis to said operative and inoperative positions.

7. A device including af'reticulated means for receiving and holding dishes and affording substantial openings for the washing and air drying of the dishes therein through said openings, comprising a container consisting of a material which will not be substantially affected by repeated and prolonged exposure to water, said container having means therein for holding a series of dishes in spaced predetermined relation to each other, and a reticulated closure means movable to operative and inoperative position to overlie and clearthe dish holding means, said closure means and dish holding means being arranged about a vertical axis, and the closure means being mounted for movement about said axis to said operative and inoperative positions, said closure means being axially movable to diiferent elevations, and means for releasably securing the closure means in operative position at said difierent elevations.

8. A device including a reticulated means for receiving and holding dishes and according substantial openings for the washing and air drying of the dishes therein through said openings, comprising a container consisting of a material which will not be substantially affected by repeated and prolonged exposure to water, said container having means therein for holding a series of, dishes in spaced predetermined relation to each other, and a reticulated closure means movable to operative and inoperative position to overlie and clear the dish holding means, said closure means and dish holding means being arranged about a vertical axis, and the closure means being mounted for movement about said axis to said operative and inoperative positions, and means for locking the closure means in operative position, the looking means being located wholly in the central axial region of the container.

9. A device according to claim 8, wherein hooks are mounted on the container for securing the closure means according to the direction of movemerit of the latter, said hooks being located at the outer wall of the container and serving to assume upward pressure on the closure means.

10. A device according to claim 8, wherein the locking means includes diametral wires on the closure and container, and means slidable on one of the wires for releasably engaging the other wire at a plurality of points.

11. A device according to claim 6, wherein certain walls of the dish holding means provide a bearing for the closure means.

CATHERINE BARRIE- 

